10 Years of Lighting in the U.S. – What’s Changed, and Why Fluorescent Lighting is Making a Difference

Lighting News No Responses »
Jan 252012

Ten years ago, the Department of Energy released a report on the state of the U.S. lighting market. This week, they published the follow-up report. The numbers reveal how far the lighting industry has come in ten years, and they indicate a few interesting trends:

We’re becoming more efficient. This one’s no surprise. Technological advancements improve energy-efficient lighting in terms of performance and efficacy month by month, so ten years certainly showed strides toward sustainability. Most notably, fluorescent light fixtures made a big impact. In the residential sector, the shift was from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps; in the commercial sector, it was from T12 to T8 and T5 fluorescent lamps. As you can see in the chart below, linear fluorescent light fixtures now make up the largest portion of the commercial sector as well as the largest portion of the total.

Overall, the efficacy of lighting improved by 29 percent – an increase from 45 lumens per watt in 2001 to 58 lumens per watt in 2010.

doe chart3 10 Years of Lighting in the U.S. Whats Changed, and Why Fluorescent Lighting is Making a Difference

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 25, 2012 at 10:26 am Tagged with: , ,

3 Awesome Blogs for Interior Design Inspiration

Thoughts on Light 1 Response »
Jan 232012

Lighting isn’t really a stand-alone topic. It overlaps with remodeling, home design, energy efficiency, commercial building design, architecture, and new construction – just to name a few. There are some excellent writers in the blogosphere covering all of those topics. Bookmark the blogs below for interior design inspiration – they are among our absolute favorites!

f logo kitchen sync 3 Awesome Blogs for Interior Design InspirationKelly’s Kitchen Sync (@kitchen_sync on Twitter): Read Kelly Morisseau’s posts, and you’ll have a wealth of information on kitchen design, bathroom design, and top trends. You’ll discover new, revolutionary products. You’ll learn what makes excellent design, and what makes designers cringe. We are constantly sharing Kelly’s helpful posts with our Facebook and Twitter followers – she’s fantastic!

final logo for color recipes 3 Awesome Blogs for Interior Design Inspiration

Color Recipes (@Color4Charlotte on Twitter): We first “met” Donna Frasca of Color Recipes on Twitter during a chat with kitchen and bath professionals – #kbtribechat is on Wednesdays at 2pm for those who want to join in. She’s a Color Specialist in Charlotte, NC, and she helps homeowners choose color palettes that complement their homes. Her blog documents the paint colors she pairs. The interesting spin is that she uses food as inspiration for each color palette. If you’re considering painting any room, Color Recipes will give you a unique perspective.

freshome logo 3 Awesome Blogs for Interior Design InspirationFreshome (@freshome on Twitter): Yes, Freshome publishes posts multiple times a day. Yes, it can really build up in your RSS feed, if you have one. And yes, they are totally worth following if you’re looking for interior design inspiration. Freshome uncovers and shares “the latest and greatest products in architecture and design.” Here is where you will find drool-worthy photos of apartments and homes you would trade for your own in a heartbeat. Each post is compelling – there’s no question that Freshome will spark new ideas for you.

 

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 23, 2012 at 4:45 pm Tagged with:

The Future of Lighting Is Closer Than You Think

Lighting News No Responses »
Jan 182012

Future The Future of Lighting Is Closer Than You ThinkImagine your lighting wall switch becoming obsolete.

Imagine controlling every single feature of your lighting from your Smartphone: dimming an individual light or a set of lights, turning them on/off, setting up a timer, and even tracking energy usage in real-time.

In Japan, that’s becoming a reality. Tokyo-based lighting tech startup Net LED Technology Corp has developed the first cloud-based LED lighting system.

It will go on sale in Japan February 20. The lights are 40W LED tubes with a 40,000 hour lifespan, and they come with built-in Wi-Fi. It’s possible to control the lights from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

For more information, see the feature in TechCrunch or view Net LED Technology Corp’s English site.

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 18, 2012 at 1:40 pm Tagged with: , ,

Play A Game of Soccer, Power an LED Lamp

Thoughts on Light No Responses »
Jan 162012

Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews first began thinking about the power of a soccer ball for a college project. Challenged to come up with a solution to a problem facing the world, they focused on the lack of access to electricity in developing countries. Their imaginary solution was a soccer ball that harnessed kinetic energy from play and transformed it to electrical energy to power an LED lamp.

Little did Silverman and Matthews know that 3,000 of those electricity-generating soccer balls would eventually be delivered to Mexico, Haiti, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and South Africa. This is a pretty incredible story:

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 16, 2012 at 10:42 am Tagged with:

5 Lighting Renovations That Will Help Sell Your Home

Lighting Tips No Responses »
Jan 122012

home buying 5 Lighting Renovations That Will Help Sell Your HomeIf you’re in the market to sell, you probably feel like you could use all the help you can get. You’ve heard realtors talk about remodeling projects to make your home stand out, but which are worth it?

If you’re asking yourself that question, your most helpful tool will be Remodeling Magazine’s Cost versus Value report. Published once a year, it’s an analysis of  remodeling projects with the highest (and lowest) value. You can select your region (New England, Middle Atlantic, etc.) and view the average cost of particular projects as well as the estimated resale value.

Obviously, those numbers are incredibly difficult to pin down, but Remodeling Magazine does their research, using figures from the National Association of Realtors, several market research companies, and thousands of web-based surveys.

If you decide to remodel a particular room after using the report, use these additional tips to amp up the lighting – and make your home more attractive to buyers: Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 12, 2012 at 2:42 pm Tagged with: , ,

Real DIY Lighting Projects: Adding a Basement Kitchen

Lighting Projects 1 Response »
Jan 102012

These photos come from a serious DIY-er, so perhaps they’ll be an inspiration for anyone considering tackling a major renovation project on your own. Chad decided to build a kitchen in his basement, so he picked out cabinets and hardware and then installed all of the electrical, plumbing, and flooring with the help of his wife. He hired someone to help with the countertops and drywall work. “Some things should just be left to the pros,” Chad said. We agree!

xenonproject 1 1024x768 Real DIY Lighting Projects: Adding a Basement Kitchen Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 10, 2012 at 12:11 pm Tagged with: , ,

How to Choose a Low Voltage Transformer in 4 Steps

Buyer's Guides 1 Response »
Jan 092012
chocolate How to Choose a Low Voltage Transformer in 4 Steps

It's our mission to make choosing a transformer as easy as choosing from a box of chocolates.

A couple months ago, I promised to write more “how-to” posts here since they seem to be most popular among all of you wonderful readers. Since then, I’ve posted How To Light a Foyer, How To Wash a Wall With Light, How To Choose a Recessed Shower Light, and How To Prevent a Power Outage Blackout.

Today, I’m tackling an arguably drier topic. However, for those of you that are diving into remodeling projects for the New Year, it’s a crucial one.

First, an introduction for those not familiar with transformers in the lighting industry (Hint: they are not shape-shifting creatures). There are two types of lighting systems: Line voltage and low voltage. Line voltage simply means that your lighting fixtures may be plugged in directly to an electrical outlet or hardwired directly to a power source. The voltage that  the light fixture needs is the same as the voltage supplied from your wall. Low voltage lighting systems require lower voltage to operate than the typical power source supplies. So, if the power source in your wall outputs 120 volts, low voltage lighting fixtures require an input of just 12 or 24 volts. That’s why you need a low voltage transformer – to convert the voltage from your power source to the amount your lighting fixture needs!

Occasionally, the transformer is built right in to the lighting fixture – in which case there’s no need for this guide. The decision has been made for you! However, if the transformer is separate, you’ll need to make sure it is compatible with your lighting fixtures. Follow this guide to make your selection in four steps … Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on January 9, 2012 at 2:44 pm Tagged with: ,

New Home Project: Remodel Recessed Lights

Lighting Projects No Responses »
Jan 052012

electrical project New Home Project: Remodel Recessed LightsWelcome to this fifth blog post of my New Home Project series. This series of posts reviews the lighting projects that I have undertaken in my new home since moving in to it in September 2009. To be honest, most of these projects have been completed some time ago. It was my goal to write a post after each project, but time just gets away from you sometimes. I cannot believe that it has been over 2 years since moving into my home.

This project involved adding seven 4-inch recessed cans throughout the first floor of my house.

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Posted by Chris Johnson on January 5, 2012 at 9:11 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

Top Light Reading News of 2011

Lighting News 2 Responses »
Dec 292011

A Look Back on 2011 Top Light Reading News of 2011Ah, the end of the year. Time for reflection, resolutions, and recaps. 2011 was a busy year for lighting  news…

EISA 2007 took center stage this year, as the phaseout of traditional incandescent light bulbs approached and the political scene got heated. We published a week-long series explaining the legislation and how it will affect you:

However, that series was not the last you heard about the legislation. The BULB Act attempted (and failed) to repeal the portion of EISA 2007 that referred to incandescent lighting. Texas challenged the federal mandate with a bill declaring incandescent light bulbs produced and sold in Texas were exempt. The Department of Energy created an ad campaign to jump start support for efficient light bulbs.  And most recently, Congress passed a bill that denied funding to implement the efficiency standards, which will start January 1, 2012. Continue reading »
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Posted by Emily Widle on December 29, 2011 at 11:53 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

Real Lighting Projects: A Kitchen Transformation

Customer Profiles No Responses »
Dec 282011

Get ready for some unbelievable before and after pictures.

Today’s post features a kitchen remodeling project from Rob’s Remodeling, Inc. After talking with Rob on the phone, I wished I lived closer to Northbrook, IL (where Rob’s Remodeling, Inc. is based) so I could hire him for any future remodeling projects I might have. He’s the nicest guy, and he’s clearly passionate about doing quality work. “I don’t do this for the money,” he told me. “I just love what I do.”

Rob says he uses Pegasus Lighting products whenever he can. His favorite under cabinet lighting fixture is the Xenon Triangle Light, and he is a perfectionist about making sure clients cannot see any wires once they’re installed. Best of all, he’s as big of a fan of under cabinet lighting as we are: “When I talk someone into doing under cabinet lighting,” he said, “it’s the difference between a good kitchen and a kickass kitchen.”

Without further ado, here are the pictures of a recent kitchen remodeling project Rob completed for a client. Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on December 28, 2011 at 12:35 pm Tagged with: , ,
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